A “CELTIC” bangle, a Pictish spearbutt and a rare shipwreck are among Scotland’s top archaeological finds this year.
Dig It! – a hub for Scottish archaeology coordinated by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – has compiled its annual list of some of the biggest finds of the year.
It hopes this can help raise awareness of the work that takes place across the country – here’s a look at the top five from oldest to newest.
Prehistoric site in Outer Hebrides
In September, prehistoric charcoal and stone tools made from chipped quartz and flint were discovered below the turf on the eroding coast in Harris.
The thin layer of black, charcoal-rich, peaty deposit was noticed by volunteers working with the Scape Trust on a coastal survey of the Nisabost promontory – a point of high land that juts out into the sea.
The tools are similar to those found on Neolithic (4100BC to 2500BC) and early Bronze Age (2200BC to 1600BC) sites in the region.
The site is also home to the 3.3m-tall Clach Mhic Leoid (McLeod’s Standing Stone), which may have had practical or ceremonial uses.
On the discovery, the Scape Trust’s Joanna Hambly said: “I love finds like this because they reveal secrets that coastal erosion uncovers – a glimpse into a prehistoric world hidden in plain sight – and remind us that anyone can make these discoveries with a keen eye and curiosity.”
Celtic bangle found in Highlands
Early in 2024, experts confirmed they had discovered a rare bangle fragment decorated with hand-carved Celtic art motifs.
AOC Archaeology Group unearthed the shale fragment in 2020 doing work undertaken for RJ McLeod Ltd on behalf of SSE and Balfour Beatty at Dalchork in Sutherland.
The bangle was discovered at the site of a Bronze Age roundhouse in a layer dated to 351BC to 55BC which revealed evidence of re-use in the Iron Age.
The fragment has since been identified by National Museums Scotland’s Dr Fraser Hunter who reconstructed the design, which includes crescent motifs, scroll designs and curved lines.
This style developed on the continent after 450BC and has traditionally been referred to as “Celtic”.
AOC Archaeology Group’s Dawn McLaren said” Not only is the find unique in Scotland and extremely rare in Britain, but the fact that it was crafted with exceptional care and a high level of skill and used frequently enough to leave scuff marks and polish gives us an insight into the people who created and carried it thousands of years ago.”
Pictish spearbutt in Fife
In July, a rare spearbutt was found at the site of the East Lomond hillfort beside Falkland in Fife.
The bronze artefact was discovered during excavations by the Falkland Stewardship Trust and the University of Aberdeen.
The regular community dig, which brings together members of the public and students, has been uncovering settlement remains extending from around the second or third century AD until approximately 700AD.
Experts identified the artefact as a spearbutt partly from depictions on Pictish carved stones, including the one at Collessie approximately seven kilometres from East Lomond and suggested the spearbutt may have been used in close combat.
According to the University of Aberdeen’s Professor Gordon Noble, the “find helps illuminate aspects of the warrior culture of the late Roman Iron Age in lowland Scotland”.
“Only a handful of these objects have been found in Scotland and the rest of Britain and Ireland.”
Rare shipwreck in Orkney
In February, winter storms exposed a large section of a wooden ship on a beach in Sanday (below) which had been preserved by the sands for centuries.
Residents alerted the Orkney Islands Council archaeologist and played a vital role in the first steps of recording the shipwreck.
Wessex Archaeology and Dendrochronicle undertook an assessment of the wreck material, commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland. This included the recording of all individual timbers and dendrochronological (tree-ring dating) sampling.
Construction techniques suggest a 17th century date, with a possible origin in England or the Netherlands.
This includes the use of wooden pegs (treenails) connecting the frames and planking, a technique that was used in shipbuilding for hundreds of years.
If this date is accurate, it would be one of only nine identified wrecks of this time period from Scottish waters.
The wreck was transferred to a large water tank funded by the National Heritage Memorial Fund alongside Sanday’s Heritage Centre to stabilise and desalinate the timbers, where they will remain while further analysis, dating and research takes place.
1988 Glasgow Garden Festival plant tag
In June, a team led by University of Glasgow archaeologists uncovered a small plant tag fragment, the first piece of physical evidence excavated from the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival site.
Garden festivals were held across the UK in the 1980s and 1990s to stimulate investment and development former industrial areas.
With over four million visitors, the Glasgow version was a significant event in the modern rebirth of the city. However, there is no formal written history and almost no above-ground remains across the 120-acre site.
The “RED CAMPION” flower tag was found during the Festival Park excavation, which also invited the public to watch and bring their photos, memories and memorabilia. The discovery was then confirmed by a photograph of the Festival site during its construction in 1987.
The university’s Dr Kenny Brophy FSAScot said: “Contemporary archaeology is at the forefront of efforts from archaeologists to become more socially engaged and relevant, but it can also be used to excite, enthuse and inspire, as has been happening in Glasgow where there’s a huge amount of nostalgia for the Festival.”
Reactions
Director of the Society of Antiquaries in Scotland Dr Simon Gilmour said there has been a “remarkable list of discoveries made across Scotland”.
“This is merely a glimpse into the wider range of exciting work that took place this year, which revealed insights into an early Medieval workshop in Islay, Stirling’s medieval city walls, industrial heritage centres in Edinburgh, and more,” he said.
“If you’re considering participating in archaeological endeavours in 2025, visit the Dig It! Website and subscribe to the e-newsletter to find out more about opportunities in your area.”
The discoveries were also praised by the head of grants at Historic Environment Scotland Dr Susan O’Connor.
She said: “Archaeology is a fantastic way that we can learn more about the history of the people and places of Scotland, whilst connecting with our past in a tactile way.
“The breadth of projects and findings that Dig It! has assembled this year showcases the variety of heritage that can be discovered through the sector’s vital work, and we're thrilled to be able to support the project through our grants funding.”
